Pouha relieved; Jets nab him with 3rd-round pick (*Article*)

[Barton]

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2682112

Pouha relieved; Jets nab him with 3rd-round pick

By Michael C. Lewis

The Salt Lake Tribune

Sione Pouha

NEW YORK - Utah's Sione Pouha impressed a lot of scouts and coaches with his workout and interviews at the NFL's pre-draft scouting combine.

It sure paid off.

The New York Jets chose the hulking defensive tackle from East High School in the third round of the NFL draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Saturday, giving the Utes their best first-day draft showing in four years. While quarterback Alex Smith became the first No. 1 pick in school history, Pouha went with the 24th pick in the third round - and 88th overall.

"I'm not surprised," he said, "I'm just relieved that it's over."

After helping the Utes cap their perfect season with a Fiesta Bowl victory, the 6-foot-3, 325-pound Pouha dedicated himself to improving his draft stock. That included working hard at the Hula Bowl, training to perform well at the combine and refusing to do what most players do there and sit idly waiting for coaches to pick him out of a huge lobby for an interview.

Instead, he made sure to stand up and walk around, hoping to attract attention. And sure enough, the defensive line coach from the Jets noticed him and struck up a conversation.

"He said, 'You never know what happens,' " Pouha said. "Who knows? Maybe that was the thing."

The Jets eventually flew him to New York for a visit before the draft, and he and coach Herm Edwards "really hit it off," agent Ken Vierra said.

Pouha will return here Wednesday for a minicamp, where he will learn the particulars of trying to join a team that also added Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent and Clemson cornerback Justin Miller on Saturday after finishing 10-6 in the AFC East last season and reaching the divisional playoffs.

"It just feels good," Pouha said.

The Utes have had two players drafted in the first three rounds of the draft only three previous times, in 1981, 1982 and 2001 - when cornerback Andre Dyson went to Tennessee in the second round and receiver Steve Smith went to Carolina in the third.

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At first I questioned this pick because he's already 25, and didn't have alot of production last year, but him being away on a church mission for 3 years, and playing only 2 years of college football, makes him about as fresh or fresher than any DT in this draft.